Handstitched

This is something I've never considered. For large jobs, like shade sails etc. I'll have 3-4 bobbins full of thread for the job. If I need more, and as one is used up, I can then put the empty bobbin on the winder and fill it up again as I sew . I just add enough to the invoice to more than cover the cost of the thread . Quite handy having more than two spools of thread of the same colour HS

Also, check the very tip of the needle. Even the slightest bit of damage to the tip can cause issues, from my own experience. HS

Yes , I see what you mean , thanks for that. We have harvest & machinery bans when it gets hot enough. No harvesting or vehicle movements across paddocks . I have seen the result of a harvester causing a spark . Looks like a giant burnt crop circle, but with a harvester in the middle of it. The harvester ( and the remaining crop) is saved....sometimes. HS

I've just made x 30 coasters with Christmas pics, for an elderly residence, but they also double as a Christmas decoration, small hole and ribbon at the top. They were lined ' Christmas green' felt underneath. Never had a problem with curling. They were 3mm veg tan . Antique dye was used, and hand painted Christmas pics with Cova Colour. Took for ever But yes, put a beer on them , a large one HS

Peace & God bless to those that have been so badly affected by the recent bush fires in Colorado . Sadly, this is something we're all too familiar with here in Australia at this time of year. Its our Summer here, and its much worse and hotter than before. Certainly not forgetting those that have just lost everything including loved ones to the tornadoes in Kentucky. What is strange to us, is the snow straight after the fires? We get some weird weather too, stinking hot in the west, and late snow in the east , that ain't right . We've already had dozens of bush fires in my state, some just down the road from my place. Just the smell of smoke puts everyone on edge. Peace HS

@krausewich G'Day, I have an older Seiko twin needle, similar to Consew. I have only used it as a single needle,I haven't even tried to set it up as a twin again,( I guess I could try , I've got all the bits) so can't help you much in that regard, but what I have learnt is that I can never find a piping foot for the twin needle. Even my regular parts supplier couldn't help . I have looked around but no luck. I too would like to do some piping on some upholstery . I have tried with a single needle set up , it sorta works, but its just not quite right. I could get another single needle machine, but space is very limited . HS

A technique that I have used, is mark out the oblong with the template, like what alpha2 has shown, and cut both ends of the oblong with a rotary punch,say # 5 or 6 and either use the oblong punch or a wide wood chisel to cut the remainder, thats worked for me . HS

@TomG The last time I ordered something from China, it took 6 weeks, years before COVID. Every time I enquired, all I got was " thank you , have a nice day" ....and thats it . WTF ?? Never again. The bits you're after are available here in Oz :http://www.adelaideleather.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5_34_36&sort=20a&page=1 I have an account with them. Theres also Birdsall Leather in N.S.W. , they too have solid brass hardware. Might not help you much, but no harm in asking. HS

Is a 'cart buckle' the same as a bridle or swage buckle ? HS

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas Just doing lots of nothing atm because its so damn hot outside. No relief until Saturday. But the beer is nice All the best, HS

I can empathise with that. Some years back, I knocked my tin of contact adhesive over....onto my leg . My right leg was covered in a sticky 'gloop' . A few 'choice words' were said, and although I tried to clean the mess up, cloths , solvents etc. my jeans still remain a little stiff to this day . Whats just as frustrating with the 'dropsies' , is when you keep dropping the same thing over and over again . Thats when its time to walk away before I throw something . HS

G'Day from a very hot Australia . Just wishing everyone a very safe, prosperous and Happy Christmas and may all of your creative ideas come to fruition in the New Year. May all of your machines run smooth and your businesses profitable Look forward to seeing some 'newbies' enter the world of leather crafting. Right now here in Oz ,its our Summer, we're experiencing some extreme high temps atm , weird weather, bush fires and cyclones, its 'cyclone season' for us. We'll be having 45+ degs for Christmas Day in my part of the world, about 112-114 for you? I love beer Peace & God Bless to those that haven't had a good year . Its good to see humanity showing its true colours, neighbors helping neighbors, and strangers helping strangers during a time of crisis , thats how the world should turn IMO . Take Care HS

G'Day, When I'm making knife cases for leathermans for example, put both pieces on the bench sander to smooth the edges before gluing, and I make sure the contact adhesive is covering the very edges and then use paper clamps all the way around ( briefly) . Then sew , sand, and burnish. I have used some old hard boot polish to fill in any minor gaps, burnishes quite nicely too.

Elements of filigree perhaps? Its all one piece . HS

Thats done it . I have all their early stuff on (original vinyl) & CD , and post Peter Gabriel , ' And Then There Were Three ' onwards. They played here in West Oz, great show, but the pig failed to 'fly' , it flopped...oops! No alcohol was allowed in, but there was a LOT of " I can't believe its not tobacco" being smoked. One bloke behind me had at least 3....the smoke kept wafting under my nose.....so I enjoyed them too . HS

Thats a tough one. Had a quick look , but nothing came close . Looks like a custom made wad type die/ punch / punches? Its a lot of effort, but is it possible to make them yourself? HS

from the album ' Brain Salad Surgery' ? I have it on vinyl, plus one other ( triple album) with full version of Fanfare on it ...somewhere. I also have a pair of ' 8 tracks' with a live performance of ELP on them. Remember them? You do realise you've just pressed the ' nostalgia' button ? My first concert was Gene Pitney ....with my parents.....I was a wee lad . So un-rock'n'roll !!! HS

For me, its ' Triple J ' . ( ABC ) . They play stuff the commercial stations haven't got the balls to play and......No Ad's woo hoo !! HS

Yes, they can cause fires . They can generate their own heat if air is not circulating around them. I guess even more so on a hot day. Never had a issue with ink coming off. Its mostly for veg tanned leathers, like belts etc. HS

G'Day, this is what I have. For applying dyes, and sealers , I have some sheep skin off cuts, cut and trimmed into 2-3" squares. I thoroughly brush off all the fluffy/ furry bits before use . Some I can re-use 2-3 times before they go a bit stiff and unusable. I use sheep skin off cuts for applying oils etc. I use old newspapers to cover my dying bench , gets changed every week or depending on how 'dyed' it gets. Someone gave me a box load of (pink) sheep skin off cuts a long time ago, and sometimes my leather supplier will give me off cuts for nothing . For cleaning my hands , my benches , machines etc. and cleaning metal components, I go through a heap of paper towel . For polishing, I re-use our old bed sheets, old T shirts, etc. Apart from paper towel, I've never bought cloths . I also re-use old T towels, bath towels etc. Some cover my machines, some I use to wipe my hands on. I try to re-use as much as I can HS

Is there a particular reason why the back isn't dyed? Unless I intend to add lining, I always dye and seal the back of my belts and collars and various other items. I would think it was quicker to dye the backs than fiddle about taping, and using markers and edge paints. @chuck123wapati You make a good point about the carpenter. I do sometimes see wood workers selling their hand made wares at markets etc. When I see the backs of items unpainted, unvarnished etc. they look unfinished. But thats just me. HS

When I first started, I went to a stone mason , asked for a ' small' piece or an off-cut of granite or marble. " Theres a piece of granite outside you can have for about $20" "You Beauty !!!" WTF ??? It was 13-14" square ....and over 4" thick ......I could barely lift it . Not to be defeated, and no help from stone mason, it was cheap after all, it took me 3 - 4 attempts to get it in the car , huffing and puffing and nearly dropping it between attempts. Damn thing nearly gave me a hernia!!! I now have a nice ( much smaller) piece of marble. HS

@Warhauk this is the stuff I use: https://maclaceleather.com.au/product/seal-shine-1-litre/ It has a nice glossy look and feel to the finished product. I use it on pretty much all dyed products. HS

I have been asked if I make boots, but I would need space twice the size of the workshop I have now to consider it. I have cutting dies for the soles, and shoe lasts, but thats about it. HS

It is a matter of preference. I've always dyed the flesh side of everything , belts and collars. I use a ' seal 'n' shine. I sometimes use a water based lacquer on some projects as neat lac is no longer available , although it did take some testing. HS